Microsoft

As fascinating as the Surface Studio might be, without one particular optional accessory, it’s really just a gigantic, but well endowed, Surface tablet. Microsoft all-in-one computer’s spellbinding appeal is thanks partly to the Surface Pen but probably more importantly thanks to the odd but fancy Surface Dial remote control. And to hammer down on how game changing this little puck can be, Microsoft has released not one, not even two or three, but five ads that show how, with the right app mixed with the right tool, great things can happen.

Just a heads up: you may not want to buy Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare on PC through the Windows Store. For some reason, Activision has decided to make the Windows Store version of the game incompatible with other PC platforms. This means that if you have a Windows Store copy of the game, you won't be able to play multiplayer with those who purchased their game on Steam.

For all the improvements, benefits, and nice things about Windows 10, its rollout has been largely criticized for two major pain points: privacy and, most importantly, its update system. Nagging, intrusive, and gargantuan, Windows 10 updates, specifically those from one major version to another, has soured users’ opinion of the OS. Microsoft promises to address these concerns, and the latest one will arrive in the Creators Update next year, via what it has nicknamed the Unified Update Platform or UUP. Microsoft definitely loves its U’s and P’s.

When Markus “Notch” Persson made Minecraft, he probably never envisioned it to be anything other than a sandbox video game. When Microsoft acquired developers Mojang, people feared that, in typical Microsoft fashion, the company would integrate and then kill Minecraft. Both, however, were proven wrong. Surprisingly, Minecraft branched out into more, unexpected places under Microsoft’s stewardship, and it is now officially and formally an educational tool. But unless you’re a school or educational institution or a student, you really won’t be able to get your hands on Minecraft: Eduction Edition.

There isn't much question that Microsoft turned some heads when it revealed its new Surface Studio last week. It would seem, however, that it didn't just catch the attention of consumers, but also competitors. Dell has teased a new all-in-one PC today, and if imitation is a form of flattery, then Microsoft must feel pretty good about itself right now.

If you are familiar with the Windows operating system, you are probably aware that Microsoft has a lifecycle for its older operating systems that includes launch, on sale, end of sale, and end of support dates. Microsoft has announced that the end of sales for Windows 7 and 8.1 for PCs with the OS pre-installed ended as of October 31, 2016.

It seems that Microsoft is now getting into the habit (again) of creating new products that can be seen as a rivaling copy of a popular service. Skype Teams, for example, is set to kill Slack. Microsoft Flow, which has been in preview for quite some time now, is aiming its guns at IFTTT. But while IFTTT has the advantage of popularity, age, and non-exclusivity, Microsoft Flow is going to hit hard in one area where IFTTT might have trouble settling in: the enterprise.

Microsoft’s Windows Store hasn’t exactly been the largest of three major app markets, and now it is smaller than ever. According to reports, Microsoft has shaved off almost a hundred thousand apps from the Italian Windows Store alone, reducing that number by a third. Those apps, however, weren’t just removed on a whim but, due to a lack of response from developers, have been deemed non-compliant with new age classification requirements as well as being practically dead.

As interesting as the Surface Studio is, especially for artists, it is made even more interesting by the Surface Dial accessory. But while the Surface Studio won’t be shipping until December, the Dial will actually be available starting November 10. Why the advance party, you might ask? Because you can actually use it with any Windows 10. But even better, if you already have a Surface Pro 4 or Surface Book, you will even be able to use it on those two’s displays.

Xbox One exclusive Gears of War 4 has been out for a few weeks now, and players, especially those that partake in the multiplayer modes, might be wondering when new maps will be released. Fortunately, Microsoft has just addressed that, revealing that the first two maps will be available for players starting in early November.

Microsoft's messaging and video calling platform Skype has released two updates heading into the weekend, one each for the Mac and iOS. The first isn't technically an update, but a brand-new app for the desktop: Skype for Business, the platform's service that focuses more on inter-office communication and productivity, along with heavy Office integration. The second is an update the regular Skype app on iOS, which introduces the ability to send messages by dictating them to Siri.

While Microsoft announced a slew of new hardware yesterday, primarily focusing on the Surface Studio all-in-one, another pleasant surprise was the debut of the Paint 3D app, a modern version of the classic MS Paint program from previous generations of Windows. Coming to Windows 10, Paint 3D has been overhauled from the basic, rudimentary drawing tool to an application supporting stylus and touch input, and capable of quick, easy 3D object creation.